The National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) and the 3,083 elected sheriffs nationwide, expressed their strong support for recognizing May 25th as National Missing Children’s Day, as well as support for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) Take 25 Initiative.

According to the United States Department of Justice, in a year there were an estimated 800,000 children missing, with an average of 2,200 children reported missing to law enforcement agencies daily. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children was created as a resource to help find missing children; to help prevent child abduction and sexual exploitation; and assist victims of child abduction and sexual exploitation, their families, and the professionals who serve them. Although the NCEMC’s domestic recovery rate for missing children has grown significantly over the years; there are still too many children who remain among the missing.

As a continuing effort to prevent the abduction and sexual exploitation of children, the National Sheriffs’ Association is an honored partner with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and its collaborative organizations to recognize May 25, 2011, and May 25th of every year, as National Missing Children’s Day. This special day is a time to remember those children who remain missing and give hope to their families that one

day they will be found.

Furthermore, the National Sheriffs’ Association is proud to support NCMEC’s Take 25 Initiative, which encourages parents, educators, and communities to “Take 25” minutes to help children stay safer. Such education and awareness is essential in helping to prevent tragedies, such as child abduction and sexual exploitation, which have unfortunately become all too familiar incidents to law enforcement agencies throughout

the United States.

As the chief law enforcement officers in our respective counties and cities, it is the duty of sheriffs nationwide to work to protect the safety and security of all citizens in our communities, particularly our most precious resource – our children. The National Sheriffs’ Association is proud to continue our vital partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and express our unwavering support for National Missing